Arashi's theory was quite right as he spent twenty three more days doing nothing but the occasional training in a secret place or reading a few scrolls. The plus side was that he mastered a few other Mokuton jutsu in that time though which could be useful. Plus, Mei had been doing a fair amount to alleviate any boredom he had. The problem with that was he began to feel a little guilty about it. He knew that Kurenai had given her permission but he was about to move in when he was sent to Kirigakure for the exams and now he was practically living with Mei. He knew he was being a little silly about it but it niggled at him.
Finally though, eight days before the end of the test, he was approached by an ANBU while having a drink with Izumo and told "Senju Arashi. Please follow me to your combat and resourcefulness tests".
Arashi grinned and stood "about damn time" he said with a chuckle "later Izumo" he said with a wave to the man as he followed the ANBU out.
He was lead to a large clearing with a different forest then the one used for tracking and evading capture tests. To his amusement he saw the Kumogakure chuunin there as well and smirked mentally. The man snorted "I have to fight a genin?" He asked incredulously.
Mei rolled her eyes "hai, a genin that has beaten every record in this test so far" she said smirking slightly. Arashi smiled dangerously at the chuunin. The man just rolled his eyes "and here I thought I might have a challenge" he said confidently. Arashi just smirked as the two moved to the centre of the clearing.
"Just out of curiosity. What happens should I beat him in a short time? What about the resourcefulness test?" He called to Mei.
"If that happens you'll be camping out in that forest with nothing but one kunai" she told him. He nodded "hai hai, easy enough" he said turning back to the chuunin.
A minute later and the elder that had been watching Arashi's other exams arrived and told them to begin. The chuunin instantly rushed forwards drawing a kunai. Arashi just put his hands in his pockets casually dodging the strikes. "You know, for what you did to Yugito im going to hurt you" he said absently. The chuunin scowled "so you're the one who got her transferred. You ruined my plan with that you know. She was going to be mine" he ground out angrily.
Arashi smiled "and now, instead of hurting you, im going to kill you" he tensed his right hand a little and a visible blue chakra enveloped it. The chuunin didn't notice this and Arashi ducked under a sweeping attack only to grab at the mans chest. He came to a sudden stop knowing something was wrong as he winced "what did you do?" He asked cringing a little.
Arashi smirked "im using a jutsu called Chakura no Mesu. Its a medical jutsu. Right now the scalpel is passing through your heart and lungs. If I move my hand even an inch it'll shred your organs and you'll die, painfully" he explained to the now sweating chuunin.
"You wouldn't would you?" He asked hurriedly.
"Gomenasai but I said I would. If you are ever granted another chance at life maybe you'll learn to respect women" he said before twisting his hand and pushing slightly so the man stumbled back before dropping to his knees spewing up a lot of blood with a pained grunt. He slumped forwards and was still so Arashi went back to Mei. "You had a history with him?" She asked curiously.
"Somewhat" he said absently. Mei nodded once before holding her hand out
"I need your equipment, except for one kunai" she told him. He nodded and passed her his pouch and kunai holster, except for one which he started spinning on one finger. "Now, you'll have to spend two days in the forest with no help from anyone. There will be ANBU patrolling the borders as well" she added. He nodded
"hai hai, see you in a couple" he said heading towards the forest casually. She smirked a little and called for an ANBU team to patrol the forest.
Upon finding a clearing Arashi looked around before nodding and smirking to himself while going through some hand seals "Mokuton: Shichūka no Jutsu" he spoke calmly. A rumbling sound echoed through the clearing before a single floored house grew from the ground. "I love Mokuton" he said to himself while going inside. It was quite simple. One room with a place in the centre for a fire which, thanks to knowing no Katon jutsu, he needed to make the old fashioned away by rubbing two sticks together.
After getting a fire started, and creating enough fire wood to last, he decided to get something to eat and headed outside where he soon found a rabbit. Shrugging he killed it with the kunai and went back to his temporary 'camp' to prepare it.
The two days passed swiftly and he was laying back with his hands behind his head relaxing when there was a knock on his door. "Come in!" He called over. It opened to admit the elder, ANBU and a widely smirking Mei. He leant up on his elbows. "Welcome, pull up a seat" he said gesturing to the several wooden chairs he had made for just this reason. "Well...definitely resourceful" the elder said looking around impressed. Arashi smirked and got to his feet as Mei said "I think Arashi has just broken all the records with this" in an absent way.
The elder nodded "hai, that'll be all Arashi-san. There are still six days left before we can finally decide upon the promotions" he said.
Arashi nodded "fair enough, shall I get rid of this place or..?" He asked.
"This forest is always used for the resourcefulness test and having a house here would be a problem. Take it down if you would" he nodded and they went outside. He made a one handed ram seal and the house rescinded back into the ground. "I put your equipment in your room" Mei told him as they travelled back.
The last six days were just for relaxing for him. Izumo finished his testing three days after Arashi did so they hit the bar. Being an official genin at least made Arashi an adult in the ninja world. Izumo got them both some drinks and they sat at a table in the corner. "Well, at least the testing is over" the man said with a grin.
"Hai, how do you think you did?"
"Me? I probably failed but im not bothered by it. Chuunin is fine for me. I just took this because Kotetsu dared me to" he said with a chuckle that Arashi shared. "What about you?" He asked. Arashi shrugged "I broke all the records but that doesn't mean anything. They might think im too young to be a jounin" he reasoned. Izumo rolled his eyes
"I doubt that. There have been younger jounin...I think" he added scratching his head before shrugging "probably" he ended with a smirk.
Arashi laughed a little "arigato for your vote of confidence" he returned.
Izumo smirked some more before asking "I heard a rumour back in Konoha not so long ago...did you really help in the blood line wars?" He asked quietly.
Arashi nodded "hai, I was still training to be a med-nin at the time. My oka-san, Shizune-nee-chan and myself helped heal the wounded" he admitted with a slight sigh "that was the first time I actually saw people dying. At six to see a full, rudimentary, hospital full of injured ninja was something that caused me nightmares for a year. My oka-san was adamant that it was the best place to start though. I lost my first patient during that war. All ninja remember their first kill but I remember her as though it just happened" he said sadly. Izumo stayed quiet just listening. "She wasn't even a ninja. Just a girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Yondaime Mizukage's men thought it would be fun to 'have some fun' with her. Four days she was kept as a toy for them then she was found by Mei's side. She had been left to die with a stab wound to her abdomen. She didn't cry, she didn't scream. I tried to heal her but she wouldn't let me near her. She told me that she wanted to die so that she didn't have to remember what had happened to her. Before she died she gave me this" he indicated to his locket and held it "she asked me to find her oka-san and tell her that she was sorry" he closed his eyes "I stayed with her until she died. I held her hand until it fell limp. Even then I stayed by her side for nearly a day before going out to find her oka-san" he said heavily. "I found her easily. She was one of the kunoichi for the Yondaime Mizukage who had captured the girl. I passed on the message and the woman just laughed. She willingly gave her daughter to those monsters" he ended in barely a whisper as he clenched the locket in his hand. "She was my first kill" he muttered angrily. "At the time I barely knew what I was doing. By the time someone stopped me there was nothing recognisable of the woman. It was my oka-san who stopped me. She had heard what the woman had said and let me continue until I was actually hurting myself. That was actually the first time I met Mei but it was only in passing. She was the guard for the prisoners that day. I think it was her that opened the cell" he said opening his eyes again and sighing before letting the locket go tucking it under his shirt. Then he looked Izumo in the eye "only three people know of what happened that day" he said.
Izumo shook his head "I won't tell anyone. Its not my place" he assured the Senju who nodded.
"Arigato. I already live through it every night I don't need others to remind me" he said bluntly. Izumo nodded once seriously. "What was her name?" He asked.
"Ayanami Suzuka" Arashi replied before standing "I'll be back later" he said distractedly to the man who nodded.
Arashi walked out into the streets with his hands in his jacket pockets and a saddened expression on his face as he walked through Kirigakure with a purpose. He ignored the happy sounding people talking around him focusing only on his destination.
It took several hours of searching but he found it. He was stood in a large field of graves looking down at one of the simple, stone, head stones that lay over the vertical graves. Her name covered in a little dirt that he crouched down and wiped away. The sunny day a complete opposite to his mood as he stayed crouched with his hand on the grave. "Gomenasai Suzuka" he muttered. Three wet spots appeared on the grey stone as he closed his eyes again.
He was in that position for an hour before he heard a familiar voice "Arashi?" From nearby. He opened his eyes "leave me alone" he replied. The person approached and crouched beside him placing her hand on his shoulder. "Arashi, it wasn't your fault" she said quietly.
"I know it wasn't my fault Mei but it damn well feels like it. Leave me alone" he snapped at her. She eyed him for a moment "gomenasai Arashi. If you ever want to talk I'll be there" she assured him standing and leaving quietly. He looked back down at the grave. "Gomenasai, I haven't visited before Suzuka. I could say that i've been busy but really, I think I was scared of coming here. I tried forgetting, i've tried running, i've tried accepting but nothing works. I want to move on but I can't. I know what your oka-san did was wrong and I know that she deserved what she got but I shouldn't have lost it. I let my temper get the better of me and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could go back and stop what happened." He said with more wet spots appearing on the grave stone. A hand gripped his shoulder "rain's getting worse" Izumo said looking up at the clear blue sky. Arashi let out a single, wet, chuckle. "Arigato Izumo. I know im being stupid but this actually helps" he said quietly while standing with a final look at the grave and saying "I'll visit again Suzuka". He left with Izumo.
That night, when he got back to the guest room a little drunk, he sat down at the desk and ran a hand through his hair moments before Mei came in as well looking a little worried. "Gomenasai for snapping at you earlier Mei" he said wearily.
"Its ok Arashi. I know how hard it must be. I think she'd..." she was cut off.
"Just don't Mei. No one knows what Suzuka would've wanted so don't even try" he told her firmly. She nodded once "ok Arashi" she agreed quietly.
His last few days in Kiri he spent by Suzuka's grave most of the day just silent. He would occasionally talk about his life to her. Izumo moved over to him "Arashi. We need to go to the Mizukage's office to hear the results of the exam" he said quietly. Arashi nodded before raising his right hand in a one handed ram seal. Izumo looked down in time to see several flowers grow up around the grave stone and smiled a little as he and Arashi left without another word.
They walked into the office and Mei immediately noticed Arashi's expression. He looked around at the five other jounin hopefuls already there. He and Izumo stood beside them and Mei smiled at them. "You've all proven yourself excellent ninja" she started "unfortunately we have lost three of the applicants" she added "the elders have conferred with myself and the ANBU. We believe you have all done a sterling job but only one of you has been promoted to jounin. The elders, ANBU and my own opinions were unanimous in this decision for his work. Not only did he break all the records in the tests but he helped during the bloodline war despite being only a trainee med-nin" she told the seven. "Senju Arashi, please step forwards" she said in an official tone. He did so and she smiled before passing him a sealed scroll. "Your updated license and jounin flak jacket are within this scroll. Congratulations" she said sincerely. He inclined his head respectfully and stepped back into line. "Please do not be disheartened" she said to the others "you should be proud of your achievements here" she ended smiling reassuringly. They bowed to her and started to file out "Arashi?" She called causing him to pause and look to Izumo.
"We'll head back to Konoha as soon as we're packed" he told the chuunin who nodded then smirked slightly "hai sir" he said. Arashi rolled his eyes but smirked as well as Izumo chuckled and left. Arashi turned back to Mei who smiled sadly at him. "Here" she said giving him a small envelope. He raised an eyebrow before opening it. It was his shinobi passport that had been taken weeks ago. "I added a permanent pass so you can visit her whenever you want to" she told him. He nodded gratefully "arigato Mei" he said sincerely before leaving.
In the guest room he changed out of his jacket and shirt pulling on a dark green, long sleeved, shirt with a high collar. After that he unsealed his sleeveless jounin flak jacket and looked at the back with a tiny smirk. Mei seemed to have taken the initiative and had the Senju clan symbol sown into the back. Chuckling a little he put it on and put his old jacket into a seal. He repacked his backpack with all the scrolls he had brought with him and left through the window.
He regrouped with Izumo by the southern gate and rolled his eyes as Izumo smirked at his jacket. "Lets go" Arashi said. Izumo nodded and they took to the trees.
The two days travel was spent talking about random things again. Izumo was quickly becoming a very good friend, especially after Arashi had told him what happened. They came to a normal walk just outside the gates. "It feels so much longer then six weeks" Izumo said glad to be back.
"Hai, who knows. Maybe I'll get to actually move in with Nai this time" Arashi joked earning a chuckle. "Hai, lets hope" Izumo returned as they passed the guard house. A chuunin with a bandage over his nose approached "hey Izumo. How did it go?" He asked excitedly before apparently remembering something "Arashi-san, Tsunade-sama wanted you to head to the hospital when you arrived" he said.
Arashi nodded "hai, later Izumo" he said leaving with a wave.
Arashi arrived at the hospital a few minutes later to find several med-nin running around quickly. He managed to catch one "whats going on?" He asked.
She blinked several times "oh! Tsunade-sama is waiting for you upstairs, second operation room" she said before hurrying off again. He rolled his eyes and moved upstairs quickly.
He entered the operation room in question and saw his oka-san giving several orders to nearby med-nin. "Will someone please tell me whats going on?" Arashi asked walking in. Tsunade looked around at him "ah, you're here. Kiba is in a bad way in the next room. I'll be working on Neji myself. He's in a critical condition. Chouji has been healed but I need you to check on him as soon as you've finished with Kiba. Shizune is with Chouji at the moment. After you've finished that go to the village centre and speak with Jiraiya" she said hurriedly. He blinked several times before leaving again and going next door.
He walked in to see Kiba laying on a bed holding the lower right side of his abdomen. Nearby was his one-san Hana with Akamaru. The younger Inuzuka looked to be in pain and there wasn't a med-nin in the room so Arashi moved over. "What happened?" He asked lifting the sheet to see what was obviously a deep stab wound. Kiba grunted "stabbed" he ground out through gritted teeth. Arashi nodded and went to work.
It took twenty minutes for him to finish healing the Inuzuka, to a level that wasn't dangerous any more anyway, so Arashi relaxed a little. "Ok Kiba. I trust im not going to have to restrain you this time?" He asked with a tiny smirk.
Kiba nodded "arigato" he said gratefully.
"No problem. There's a little more healing to be done but the worst is done" he assured the boy before going back to it. "So, what happened?" He asked Hana.
"The chuunin exams. We were invaded by Suna and Otogakure" she told him. His eyes widened but he didn't lose focus "that must've been weeks ago though" he reasoned thinking it through.
"Hai, we were just getting back on our feet when Sasuke deserted. Orochimaru got him with some strange seal and he went to get more power. Kiba went with Neji, Chouji and Shikamaru to get him. They were intercepted by some of Orochimaru's men" she explained.
Arashi's expression darkened "why did no one send me a message?" He demanded.
"We did but there's no contact allowed during the jounin exams" she explained. He growled mostly to himself "ok Kiba. You need to rest and you won't be allowed to leave this bed for a week" he said.
Kiba nodded and looked over at his sister "Akamaru?"
"He'll be fine" she assured him. Arashi left the room and headed to Chouji's.
Inside he saw a strange sight. Chouji was emaciated and pale. Shizune was working on a table that had obviously been brought in just for her. "What's the problem?" Arashi asked her. She looked around "he used the Akimichi pills trying to get Sasuke back. Tsunade-sama managed to halt the fatal effects but he's still dangerously ill." She explained.
He nodded but frowned "why am I needed then?" He asked.
"I can make the medicine needed but I need him to be restrained" Arashi nodded and moved over to the unconscious boy making a ram seal. Wooden bindings shot up from the floor pinning him tightly to the bed "arigato. Tsunade-sama will be busy with Neji for some time. There isn't any other urgent cases." He nodded and shunshined away.
He arrived in the village centre and saw Jiraiya in the centre. He seemed to be directing building crews. As Arashi looked around he saw that there were whole streets of buildings that had been destroyed. "Jiraiya?" He asked getting closer.
The Sannin looked around "ah, there you are. Need a little help with rebuilding" he said gesturing around. Arashi nodded and moved to a street on which all the houses had been destroyed but cleared. He made several hand seals "Mokuton: Tajuu Shichūka no Jutsu!" There was a loud rumbling before ten houses, on both sides of the street, erupted from the ground growing two stories. Arashi shook his head a little and Jiraiya chuckled "that'll make things easier" he said. Arashi rolled his eyes but moved to the next street.
He continued on for half an hour during which he created nearly a hundred houses. He was exhausted from using so much chakra and sat down heavily on a bench. "Good work Arashi" Jiraiya complimented clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Arigato...I need some rest though" he muttered. Jiraiya chuckled "sure thing, Kurenai's probably waiting for you" he said. Arashi smirked a little and nodded before taking off.
He walked through the village so it took him forty minutes to get to Kurenai's apartment from the centre. He knocked on the door "one moment" Kurenai's voice called before he heard the lock disengage and she opened the door. Her eyes widened "Arashi!" She called hugging him tightly.
"Agh! Hello Nai" he gasped. She laughed a little and let him go kissing him and shutting the door.
"When did you get back?" She asked leading the way to the living room where Yugao and Anko were sat. "Couple of hours ago" he told her "I would've come straight here but I was needed at the hospital" he said. She nodded and they sat down.
Anko smirked at him "about time...I don't know how much more pining we could've withstood" she teased. Kurenai stuck her tongue out at her before looking Arashi over "you passed?" She asked.
He nodded "hai, wasn't too hard. Broke all the records" he said with a smirk that she returned.
"Hows Mei?" She asked curiously.
"She's fine" he said with a smile.
She nodded then asked "do you still want to move in?" In a nervous tone.
"Why wouldn't I?" He replied. She grinned at him.
The conversation for the next few hours was primarily Arashi recounting his testing period, skipping over the Suzuka part. He didn't need Kurenai to worry about him for it either. He knew his oka-san would always worry and so would Mei but he didn't need it, or want it. He also intentionally missed the fox summoning as well. Didn't need questions about that just yet. There was a knock on the door and Kurenai went to answer "oh, Tsunade-sama. Please, come in" she said letting the blonde inside. "Arigato Kurenai" she said as the two came back into the living room.
"Hows Neji?" Arashi asked.
"He's fine. In recovery at the moment" she said sitting down next to Anko. "I see you got promoted" she said with a grin.
He nodded and sighed while looking down at the floor "I went to see Suzuka" he told her.
Instantly her own expression saddened"you ok?" She asked. Anko, Kurenai and Yugao looked between each other confused then turned back to Arashi as he reached up and held the locket he wore. "Hai, guess I just needed to visit" he said quietly.
"Um, whose Suzuka?" Kurenai asked confused. Arashi looked around at her for a moment and Tsunade stayed quiet. "Not now Kurenai...later" he said turning away again. She blinked several times but nodded slightly confused by his tone.
It was another couple of hours before the others decided to call it a night and headed home. Kurenai sat with Arashi as he held the locket again. "You know I helped in the bloodline wars?" He asked her. She nodded "the first person I went to heal..." he began to tell her what he had told Izumo but in greater detail. As he spoke his eyes got wet and Kurenai pulled him into a hug yet he felt glad for getting it off his chest.
A few hours later found the two silent with Arashi leaning against Kurenai's shoulder complete with tear tracks down his cheeks. "Arigato Arashi" Kurenai said after a moment.
"What for?" He asked glancing up.
"For trusting me with this. I know it can't be easy for you. Come on, you need some sleep" she said firmly while pulling him up. He nodded and they went to bed.
The next morning Arashi woke up and smiled finding himself in Kurenai's arms as she slept on his chest. She stirred with a slight moan and looked up at him with a smile. "Morning Arashi" she said quietly. "Morning Nai...I think that was the first night I haven't remember what happened" he said seriously. She smiled and hugged him a little. "Out of curiosity, what was with calling my oka-san -sama?" He asked.
She sighed "the Sandaime was killed during the invasion by Orochimaru. He managed to seal Orochimaru's arms away though. Tsunade-sama was chosen as the Godaime Hokage" she told him. He blinked several times "ah" was all he could say for the moment.
Twenty minutes later they were up, showered and dressed ready to go out and help again. Kurenai already knew where she would be going and set off kissing him and he shunshined to the Hokage's office.
Upon arriving he couldn't help but smirk slightly seeing his oka-san sat behind the desk with a veritable mountain of paperwork around her. "Not a word" she warned him seeing the smirk. "Now, I'll assume that you're here for an assignment" he nodded "first of all, I want you to make rounds at the hospital. After that I think that Jiraiya could use a little more help, that Mokuton jutsu was very helpful" she added proudly.
He nodded "hai, is Shizune-nee-chan at the hospital?"
"Hai, report to her first" Arashi nodded before shunshining away again.
He reappeared just outside the hospital and went inside to see Shizune looking quite tired by the reception talking to a med-nin. He went over to her "Shizune-nee-chan" he said getting her attention. She smiled wearily at him "there you are. The med-nin have been given their jobs for now. Neji needs checking on as does Kiba. I've set out a course of treatments for Chouji which is already being followed. Gomenasai but I need to get some sleep. I can't heal, or help, like this" she told him passing over a clipboard. He nodded "hai, go get some rest. I got this" he assured her looking through Neji's information. "Arigato" she said gratefully before leaving. He headed upstairs to check on Neji.
Upon arriving at his room he opened the door to find that Neji was with Lee, Tenten, Gai, Hinata and Hiashi. They looked around as he entered. "Arashi?" Hinata asked blinking several times.
"Hai, good to see you Hinata. How you doing Neji?" He asked the teen who was sitting up with a heavily bandaged torso. "Sore" was the answer. Arashi nodded and moved forwards to check him.
After a few minutes "looks like its healing fine, no surprise considering. How the hell did you get an injury like this anyway?" He asked sternly. Neji sighed
"I was fighting one of Orochimaru's sound four. He got me with an arrow but I took him out" he said with a proud tone. Arashi nodded slowly "ok then, gomenasai but I have other patients to check on" he said heading to the door after clipping the clipboard to the end of Neji's bed.
"That's fine...where have you been?" Neji asked suddenly.
"Jounin exams" Arashi replied heading out and closing the door on some shocked expressions.
The next check up was Kiba who was also sat up in bed but he had Hana, Tsume and Shino visiting. Akamaru was laid down on the next bed looking healthy at least. "Hey Kiba. Just need to check you" he said heading over. Kiba nodded and Arashi looked the mostly healed wound over. There was only so much healing a med-nin could do before having to leave it to the bodies natural abilities. The Senju sighed and looked Kiba in the eye. "Ok, I want you to lay down and stay laid down. Just sitting up is putting strain on this and too much will reopen it. Im sure you don't want that" he said. Kiba nodded and gingerly laid down with a little help from Hana. "Otherwise its healing well" Arashi ended. He was about to get to the door when he heard Tsume behind him.
"Arigato. I heard that you're the one that healed Kiba" she said.
"Hai, its no problem...just try not catching kunai with your body" he said to Kiba who smirked a little. Tsume nodded and smirked as well "jounin huh?" She asked. He chuckled and nodded before leaving.
In the next room he was unsurprised to find Ino, Shikamaru, Asuma and Chouji's tou-san Choza. Arashi looked Chouji's clipboard over and nodded before putting it back and looking up at the thin looking boy. "Arashi, can't I have something to eat?" He asked.
"Nope, has to go in increments im afraid or you'll just throw up" Arashi told him. He slumped slightly but nodded. Arashi then noted what Shikamaru was wearing "congratulations Shikamaru" he said sincerely.
The Nara nodded before raising an eyebrow "you went to the jounin exams?" He asked. Ino and Chouji blinked a few times as Arashi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Hai hai" he confirmed.
Asuma smirked "Yugito and Kakashi owe me money" he said with a chuckle.
Arashi rolled his eyes "i've got to go check on some other patients" he said.
"Arashi. Hows Kiba and Neji?" Ino asked hurriedly.
He smiled over his shoulder "they'll be fine. It was a close call for Neji but he's just lucky my oka-san was around. I'll check up again later" he said mostly to Chouji who nodded as the Senju left to continue his rounds.
He was at the hospital for another seven hours before Shizune returned looking fully awake and refreshed. He passed over the clipboard he had and told her the important things. Then he left to find Jiraiya.
Once again the toad Sannin was in the centre of the village but there was far less going on. Arashi had rebuilt almost a third of the destroyed houses himself the previous day. "Ah, there you are" Jiraiya said with a grin. "Hang on" he said before calling for an ANBU who was wearing a cat mask but was male. "As it turns out there is a second Mokuton user in the village. Between the two of you I think we should have Konoha back up and running in no time" the ANBU nodded and bowed slightly in silence before going to an empty street and using the same jutsu Arashi had the day before. However he created only five on each side and looked thoroughly exhausted by only that which caused Arashi to raise an eyebrow before shrugging and going to his own street.
By the end of his fourth street the surprise that the ANBU was giving off was almost palpable. Arashi was bent double with his hands on his knee's after creating eighty of the houses. Shaking his head he moved to the last street of the day and used the jutsu once more before leaning against a house and sighing. "Ok Arashi. That'll do. Take the day off from rebuilding tomorrow. Why don't you head home now" Jiraiya said with a smile.
"Arigato" Arashi replied before setting off at a walking pace towards Kurenai's, and his, flat.
This continued for the next week. Shizune would take the night shift at the hospital and he would take the day before going to help Jiraiya on alternating days. He didn't think it'd take too long for his paperwork to get back to normal levels after he got back from the jounin exams. Kurenai had been very understanding. She had enough as it was being a jounin so the added extra of being the on call med-nin every day was something ridiculous. Although, if she did have any plans for them to be intimate in any way they were sort of stunted by Anko, Yugao and Hana who seemed to have made her apartment their meeting place instead of the cafe.
It was now Arashi's first day off. Kiba had been released from the hospital with the sole proviso he take it easy for the next two weeks. Something that Tsume was going to make sure happened. Neji was healing well but needed to stay for another week, in Arashi's opinion anyway which was generally accepted. He had noticed that Neji had changed drastically since he last spoke with him. He wasn't arrogant or cold to people any more. The Senju was currently sat in the apartment with Yugao, Anko and Hana talking with him and each other when he saw the time. Kurenai would be home soon. "Ok, not to be mean you three but out" he said with a smile. "Nai and I have had no time together since I came back" he explained. Anko smirked with the others and they left with a wave.
Kurenai came back looking tired so he directed her to a chair and promptly gave her a shoulder rub which she seemed to enjoy quite a lot. "You were right" she said with a content sigh "you do have magic hands" she recalled with a smile as he chuckled.
"So i've been told" he returned also smiling. She smiled a little more before getting up and leading him into the bedroom.
The next morning found the two in their usual places when they woke up. Kurenai using Arashi's chest as a pillow and he had an arm around her shoulders. She stirred a few moments after he did and said quietly "thank Kami its my day off today...too tired to do anything" she complained. He chuckled "Unfortunately its not my day off, I need to go" he said reluctantly. She pouted but nodded again.
Half an hour later he arrived in the Hokage's office to find Tsume and Anko there as well. Raising an eyebrow towards Anko she shrugged and Tsunade sighed. "I have a mission for you three" she started. Now Arashi was interested. What mission would take those three? Four if Kuromaru was to be included. "Its from an outside country" Tsunade went on. Arashi frowned a little, outside countries weren't supposed to know of the hidden continent. "There is something attacking school students in a place called Hogwarts. The head master wants someone to take care of it. He believes it to be something called a basilisk, which according to him is a large serpent capable of killing with a stare. Personally I think the old geezer is off his rocker but better safe then sorry. Its hiding somewhere inside the castle" she explained.
Tsume nodded slowly "I was wondering why you'd need us three...actually, I still don't understand. I can track it, Anko's a snake expert but what about Arashi?" She asked.
Tsunade gave her a flat expression "do you speak English?" She asked. Tsume shook her head and Tsunade looked to Anko who also denied. "Well then, that is why you need Arashi. Other then myself and Shizune he's the only one in the village who speaks English. Simple enough. Normally I would've turned this mission down but he's paying the equivalent of an S-rank mission. Right now we need all the income we can get" she said with a slight sigh. The three nodded "when do we leave?" Anko asked.
"As soon as possible. The client, Dumbledore Albus, will meet you at a place called Kings Cross in London. You know the way right Arashi?" She directed. He nodded having been there during his years travelling with the two Sannin. "You have two hours to get your things and head out" she told them. They nodded and left again.
Arashi walked into the apartment to see Kurenai talking with Hana and Yugao. The genjutsu mistress looked around at him with a questioning expression. "Got a mission that'll take a little while. Going to the outside countries" he explained. She nodded once "oh, and Hana?" He added turning to her from the door of the bedroom. "Tsume and Anko are going as well...make sure Kiba doesn't do anything stupid" he said making her smirk and nod before bidding her friends goodbye and leaving.
He gathered his things, and extras just in case it was a long mission, and headed back out of the bedroom. He leant over the back of the couch to give Kurenai a kiss, which Yugao smirked at, and then he left with a wave.
He found Tsume, Kuromaru and Anko by the western gate waiting for him so he joined them and Anko promptly smirked "are we going, sir?" She asked grinning. Tsume smirked as well and Arashi rolled his eyes amused but smiled "hai hai, lets go" he said taking off with the three in tow.
So, a little back history of Arashi there. I know some parts, talking to the gravestone, may be a little cliche but I think they work well. The magical world now makes an appearance. Like I've mentioned before this will only be a fleeting visit but it will develop from this. Again, the medical and healing? I still don't know anything about it and just made some stuff up. I also realise that the timeline might be a little skewed for Sasuke's defection but that's because I haven't seen the original series of Naruto for quite some time and I couldn't remember how much time actually passes.
Now I made Arashi's first visit to Hogwarts involve the basilisk for a reason that should be seen in the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. R&R please and thank you for reading. :)